Expired Makeup Can Harbor Dangerous Bacteria

I rarely wear make up. Aside from the fact that I believe its bad for your skin (despite several manufacturers claims otherwise), I've just never felt the need to try and make myself something I'm not. It's not that I don't own any make up0 - I have a drawerful of items that rarely see the bathroom counter. I do wear it, on occasion, but mostly it sits unused and forgotten.

For someone like me, where a bottle of foundation or mascara can last upwards of a year, lipstick several years and blushes and powders equally as long (if not longer), its disturbing to find out all my make up has most likely spoiled and is now home to a myriad of bacteria and icky skin infecting parasites!

Even if you use make up on a daily basis, if you have clumpy mascara, goopy foundation and half used lipsticks, the very items you use to cover blemishes may be causing them in the first place! Even worse, it may cause infections such as pink eye if it gets into your eyes! In many cases, you may as well stick the mascara wand directly in your eye!

So how do you know when its time to throw it out?

That's a tricky question, even for the experts!

Most cosmetics are not marked with an expiration date, so its up to the consumer to rely on their sense of smell and the texture of the make up to determine its "freshness". If it's gloppy, or smells "funny" toss it!

If you base it on when you first open the make up, eye makeup's and foundations have an expected lifespan of about three months. The one in my drawer- I've had for about two years! ICK!

Powders and foundations (non liquid varieties) can be expected to last about a year (mine are at LEAST that old! ICK again!)

If you notice that you are breaking out more than normal, it may be a sign that your make up has reached the end of its lifespan.

Applicators such as sponges and brushes should be replaced as well. Applicators such as sponges for liquid make up should be replaced weekly, where as brushes can be washed a couple of times a month and air dried and should last several months to a year.

Please excuse me now while I go dump out all of my make up, brushes and sponges! I knew I didn't like makeup!